The Weekly Update #4

Hello DMS Students and Families,

MCAS began this week with the ELA Sessions for grades 5 and 6. Next Tuesday and Wednesday grades 7 and 8 will have their MCAS ELA Sessions. Next Friday Students and Staff members will walk up to Shepherd Hill High School for the annual Be Better Classic basketball game. More information can be found below.

As you have probably heard, there is a solar eclipse occurring between 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8. This is an exciting occurrence, but given the timing of the eclipse, dismissal and after school activities require careful consideration. While we hope that students and families will be able to enjoy this educational experience, student safety remains our first priority. In this pursuit, school staff will continue to advise students against directly staring at the eclipse without proper eye protection. We appreciate your assistance with reinforcing this safety protocol, as well.

For your reference, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has compiled a variety of educational and informational resources. Please visit DESE’s website to explore the eclipse resources: https://www.doe.mass.edu/stem/ste/eclipse.html.

Should you have any questions regarding dismissal and or extracurricular activities, please do not hesitate to contact the school. We hope that the solar eclipse will be a safe, memorable experience for all!

Dress Code

As warmer weather approaches I want to bring to parents and students attention the dress code expectations for Dudley Middle school students.

From the Dudley Middle School Handbook (page 13 of 54):

DCRSD respects individual rights of expression, however it is expected that students will dress appropriately in school with consideration for public sensibility with an emphasis for a safe and orderly environment.

***Students are expected to discuss with caregivers what is appropriate to wear to school and what is not. Clothing that exposes underpants or private parts (must also not be see-through), no bare midriffs, shorts/skirts/dresses may be no higher than mid-thigh are inappropriate for the school community.

The administration reserves the right to decide whether certain clothing is appropriate for school. Parents will be notified and students will be asked to change their clothing if deemed inappropriate.

Please reach out to Mr. Tucker or Mr. Gilrein if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Please review the list of important dates below.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, April 6, 2024 - Colorguard finals at Salem Ma

Saturday, April 6, 2024 - Jazz Band at Umass/Amherst

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - Colorguard Family and Friends Night at Shepherd Hill 6:00 pm

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 District Show Choir Concert at Shepherd Hill 6:00 pm

Monday, April 15- Friday, April 19, 2024- Spring Break

Monday, April 22, 2024- Math Team Field Trip to WPI

MCAS Dates-

ELA Grades 5&6 April 2-3 (Tu/W)

Grades 7&8 April 9-10 (Tu/W)

Math Grades 5&6 May 14-15 (Tu/W)

Grades 7&8 May 7-8 (Tu/W)

STE Grade 5 May 21-22 (Tu/W)

Grade 8 May 21-22 (Tu/W)

Civics Grade 8 May 29-30 (W/TH)

Friday, May 3, 2024 District Wide Art Show 5-7pm at Shepherd Hill

Saturday, May 4, 2024- Team 7-1, Wolf Hollow Field Trip (10:30-4:30)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024- Team 5-3 Samuel Slater Experience

Wednesday, May 8, 2024- Team 5-2 Samuel Slater Experience

Thursday, May 9, 2024- Team 5-1 Samuel Slater Experience

Thursday, May 9, 2024 - Jazz Band - District Jazz Night at CMS 6:00 pm

Friday, May 17, 2024- Lip Sync/Talent show

Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Show Choir auditions for 2024-2025 school year (until late bus)

Dress rehearsals TBA

Friday, May 29, 2024- Band Concerts grades 5 & 7

Saturday, May 30, 2024- Band Concerts grades 6 & 8

Sunday, May 31, 2024 - Jazz Band to Great East Music Festivals - All Day 8:00 am- 5:00 pm

Tuesday, June 4, 2024- 7th Grade Bravehearts Field Trip

Tuesday, June 4, 2024- Chorus Concerts grades 5 & 7

Wednesday, June 5, 2024- Chorus Concerts grades 6 & 8

Wednesday, June 5, 2024- Rome Day (7-1 Wolves)

Friday, June 7, 2024- 7th Grade Color Run afterschool

Friday, June 7, 2024- American Heritage Museum

Please check the dcrsd.org website under the Dudley Middle School link https://dms.dcrsd.org/ for more information on our upcoming events and activities.

Each year the District publishes information regarding asbestos notifications. For your information a link is being published below:

https://www.dcrsd.org/about-dcrsd/district-information/asbestos-notification

Thank you,

Mr. Tucker

Please consider the MCAS dates when scheduling appointments, and other events. Remember that attendance during MCAS is really important!

Dudley Middle School has organized an annual “Be Better Classic” Basketball Game since 2018 in honor of John Paire, a highly regarded and loved principal at DMS. Sadly, he passed away in 2017. John would conclude many, if not all, of his announcements with the phrase “Be Better - You only get this day once.” He exemplifies everything we here at DMS strive to mirror in both ourselves as teachers and for our students. His “Be Better” motto will always live on here at DMS.

This year’s Be Better Classic will be held in the afternoon of April 12th. The jazz band will perform as the staff takes on some of the 8th grade students for a friendly and sometimes fiercely competitive, basketball game.

Students, with their teachers, will walk up to the Shepherd Hill gymnasium. We will enter directly into the gym through the back doors. Students will sit in grade specific sections with their teachers.

If your child requires any special accommodations to get to the High School or if you would like for your child not to participate in this event, please call Mr. Tucker or Mr. Gilrein at Dudley Middle School.

This event is weather permitting.

As always we hope all students will meet our behavior expectations. Administration and Teachers reserve the right to determine if a student can safely attend this event. Parents and families will be notified within 24 hours if their child is unable to attend.